Facebook wants to add a camera to your TV

Facebook is allegedly planning to take on Apple TV and Amazon’s Fire TV with a new set top box of its own.

The social network just debuted its new Portal smart speaker earlier this month and according to a new report its smart TV box could pack some similarly creepy features.

Cheddar reports that Facebook’s set top box would pack a camera on the front to allow for video calling. The box would also give users access to Facebook’s YouTube competitor and other entertainment options.

Facebook has code named the project ‘Ripley.’ Some of the same tech from the Portal speaker would be used on the TV box. Ripley is supposedly on track to be announced in spring of 2019.

Development of the TV accessory could cause it to be delayed until later in 2019. If it does come out, Facebook would be directly competing with Apple TV, Google’s Chromecast, Amazon and Roku. With how much money Facebook is making, it could even get into creating its own original content too

Obviously, some people will be concerned about Facebook putting a camera in TV rooms. Hopefully, it will come with a built-in camera cover so you can physically block it from recording you and sending data to advertisers.